His big blue eyes looked up at me thoughtfully for a moment from under their long lashes. Then he crumpled up the half-covered sheet of paper, remarking—
"There are some things you can't make public."
"But with a nom de plume...."
"I might let you see it," he conceded.
There we had to leave the subject, as the library was soon afterwards invaded by zealous seekers after luncheon, first Lady Roden and Gartside, then the rest of the party with the single exception of Sylvia. Lady Roden walked over to the window and gazed in dismay at the unceasing downpour.
"Is Sylvia back yet, does anybody know?" she asked.
"She came in about a quarter of an hour ago," volunteered the Seraph.
"Was she very wet?"
"I didn't see her."
Lady Roden bustled out of the room to make first-hand investigation.